E-ISSN 2281-4612 Academic Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies Vol 5 No 3 ISSN 2281-3993 MCSER Publishing, Rome-Italy November 2016 Evolution of National Identity in Montenegro Msc. Shkelzen Imeri Diplomat, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Doi:10.5901/ajis.2016.v5n3p141 Abstract While the current political atmosphere can be attributed to events over the past six monthsThe origin of identity in Montenegro and the desire for independence, lie deep in history. It represents the continuation of the movement of the inner centrifugal forces and simultaneously instigated from outside. These have existed since the old Yugoslavia, while these are deeply ingrained in the political institutions for the creation of identity in Montenegro.It is There are still internal public debates regarding the Montenegrin nationality and citizenship of this population. The issue of identity in Montenegro is closely related to the history and development of the country. The most controversial issue is related to the lack of historical continuity and is mainly argued in contesting its existence as an independent state or as a nation-state. The data show that there has been a movement of population with different national identities in the border regions of Montenegro. The issue of identity and crossing the border areas, especially when it comes to those places where borders were often the subject of discussion for change and population were found in situations where national identity became increasingly fluid. The methodology of this study is based on indicators of the census in Montenegro in 1948, where the number of people who were registered as Montenegrins in Montenegro (declared Montenegrin ethnicity) was 90.67%; later on, it has been dropping to 67.15% in 1971 and to 61.86% in 1991; the number of citizens who declared themselves Montenegrin dropped sharply to 44.98% in 2011. Change of the declaration of Montenegrin ethnicity has been influenced by various factors and complex internal and external, including economic development, freedom of expression, increase of cultural level, as well as the interference of external factors (in 1948, break up relations with the Soviet Union). Determination of the elements that have contributed to the declaration of Montenegrin ethnicity is of interest herein. Keywords: Identity, census, nationality (ethnicity), factor, interests, independence, economic development. 1. Introduction Montenegro has been an internationally recognized independent country in 1878 at the Congress of Berlin until it has been annexed to the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes in 1919 when “the Montenegrin people did not have an opportunity to exercise their right to self-determination according to international norms". The term “annexed” is a term of dispute when discussing Montenegrin nationhood and the infamous Podgorica Assembly of 1919 that led to the loss of independence is being reiterated even today in public discourse among elites both in Serbia and in Montenegro (Pavloviü, 2008). Montenegro has a discontinued tradition regarding the independence, which lies before, during and after the creation of Yugoslavia, where Serbia and Montenegro had a common border. This was the result of the First Balkan War in 1912. Montenegro has a tradition of precarious independence stretching back long before thBy this time, pressures and different movements existed within the Montenegrin society, between those who seek union with Serbia, and those who wish to remain independent. According to historian John R. Lampe: "The loss of identity through union with Serbia on the grounds that it is a small and isolated country, or is created the third alternative, under which being part of the Yugoslav state, it would be attractive for the majority of Montenegrins, especially after two world wars. Yet allHowever, all three options ... will have their supporters" (Lampe 1996). Tito initially tried to establish a Yugoslav identity through strong partisan movement against the fascist occupation. After 1948, by means of anti-Stalinism, he chose "the third way", that of self-management socialism as well as brotherhood and unity. Creation of Serbo-Croatian language as an official language in the four republics (Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Montenegro) made it possible for more than 70% of Yugoslavs of a common official language. Establishment of consolidated state structures during the regime of Tito, through increasing welfare and a series of other measures, made it possible to replace nationalist feeling among the different republics of the former Yugoslavia. After Tito's death, the economic crisis grew, the standard of living dropped and nationalist identities began to rule. In these conditions, nationalism became a refuge for the people of the former Yugoslavia, where they found their natural protection (Fischer 2008). 141 E-ISSN 2281-4612 Academic Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies Vol 5 No 3 ISSN 2281-3993 MCSER Publishing, Rome-Italy November 2016 Social ties between the two republics (Montenegro and Serbia) after 1990 still remain strong and intense. Large numbers of Montenegrins still A large number of Montenegrins live and work in Serbia. They have consistently been supportive of the federation and sometimes claim that there are more Montenegrins in Serbia than in Montenegro. Such claims are impossible to verify, because If we take steps to such checks, it is impossible to verify them. This is because many individuals consider themselves to be at the same time as Serbs or Montenegrins.According to the 1991 census, there were 74,000 Montenegrins in Central Serbia, 45,000 in According to the 1991 census, there were 74,000 Montenegrins in Central Serbia, 45,000 in Vojvodina and 20,000 in Kosovo. 8Traditionally, many Montenegrins study in Serbia, Traditionally, many Montenegrins study in Serbia, especially in Belgrade. There are many family ties across the republican border, and many There are many family ties across the borders of republics. Many citizens have properties in the two republics. In general, however, the institutional and functional links between the two republics are nowHowever, institutional ties between the two republics have had their ups and downsvery limited – far less, for example, than between two member states of the European Union.. Montenegrins have created political elites and administrative structures, where among others, have their interest for the existence and continuity (PAVLOVIû 2003).To reconstitute a meYugoslav history shows that this is not eas According to Pavlovic, the relationship between Serbs and Montenegrins originate deep in the history and development over the years of relations between Montenegro and Serbia, as they have common roots, the same language and the common Orthodox religion (Jessup, John E. 1989). Referring to the above elements, we find it easier to understand what unites Montenegro and Serbia, in relation to the population of the states of the former Yugoslavia. If we analyze the situation, Croats are mostly Roman Catholics and have developed a particular agenda of their language; Bosniaks are mostly Muslims; Macedonians speak other language; Slovenes have their own language different and were the first to flee from Yugoslavia; in Kosovo is spoken an entirely different language and the majority of the population belongs to the Muslim faith. 2. Strengthening the Montenegrin Identity in the Period of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia On 11 November 1945 elections were held, with the National Front on the ballot winning, securing all 354 seats. On 29 November, while still in exile, King Peter II was deposed by Yugoslavia's Constituent Assembly, and the Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia was declared (Tito, without losing time, created the Federal Republic, which consisted of six republics. Montenegro, in the framework of historical tradition, was separated from Serbia, so as not to give weight to the Serbian influence in the bosom of the federation, although most of Montenegrins of that time considered themselves Serbs. They were encouraged to aquire the Montenegrin nationality (Bernd. J. Fischer 2008). Timm Judah reveals a very interesting fact about Montenegro. He cites the well-known dissident Milovan Djilas to have told Tito: "Montenegrins do not want to be a separate republic, because they are the same as Serbs (both eyes of the same head)". Tito told Djilas: "If Montenegrins do not need a separate republic, I need it, for maintaining balances and domestic needs ". Tito on his own initiative decided in 1945 that the Republic of Montenegro will be part of the Yugoslav federation. This is to show the personal power and his political visionary ambitions (Judah 1997). Milovan Djilas claims in his book "The Story from Inside" (1968) that "Tito was a master of manipulation of power. He needed Montenegro precisely to preserve internal balances me qëllim mbatjen e pushtetit". If analyzing the 1931 census, the population of Montenegro was declared Serbian Orthodox 80.88%, so there were no differences between the Serbs and Montenegrins. In the census of 1948, the promotion of Montenegrin nationality by Tito and his associates, as well as Russian support, enabled to declare over 90.67% Montenegrin, 1.78% Serbian, 0.1% Muslim, 15.5% Albanian, 1. 8% Croatian. The Muslim nationality almost does not exist in Montenegro, so it is merged into a single one with the Orthodox nationality, according to the 1948 census. The reasons are that Montenegro and Serbia were undisputed triumphants of the war in former